I've now spent the last 30 years of my professional life teaching and coaching and discipling and building relationships with the NEXT generation of Christian students and young adults. It's been incredibly fulfilling, brought me great joy, and full of challenges in the invitation that I've extended to them to live a different and compelling life as followers of Jesus among their peers and in our culture and world.
I think it's pretty honest to say that there has never been a time in those 30 years more filled with negativity, daunting statistics, and great uncertainty, especially in the American/Western church culture, when people look forward to the future as it relates to young people and their engagement with Scripture, Jesus, and His Church.
The books written by Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons and Mark Matlock have been incredible works that have detailed some of the challenges faced inside and outside the Church as well as the unique opportunities provided for this generation of young Christ followers. UNCHRISTIAN, YOU LOST ME, and GOOD FAITH have awakened the American evangelicals and others to some of the issues and crisis points we have been and are facing in the faith journey of emerging adults.
Their latest book entitled FAITH FOR EXILES released this past week and hones in on the 5 practices of young disciples of Jesus who thrive and resiliently live out their faith in what the authors refer to as "Digital Babylon" where they now find themselves. This list and the explanations and examples given for each of the 5 practices comes from Barna's research on this group that is in many ways caught between cultures. Here is the list of the 5 PRACTICES as they counter the influence and impact of the digital culture and world we now live in:
1. To form a resilient identity, experience INTIMACY WITH JESUS
2. In a complex and anxious age, develop the muscles of CULTURAL DISCERNEMENT
3. When isolation and mistrust are the norms, forge meaningful INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
4. To ground and motivate an ambitious generation, train for VOCATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
5. Curb entitlement and self-centered tendencies by engaging in COUNTERCULTURAL MISSION
I see these 5 traits as powerful ideas and targets that can and will enable faithfulness to Scripture and the capacity to flourish and be salt and light in the culture and communities students are part of in this era of digital relationships and communication that has altered so much in their lives and thoughts about the pursuit of faith.
Faith for Exiles is a book that anyone who is a parent, mentor, teacher, coach, pastor, or friend of the next generation should read as they consider their role in inspiring and developing the faith of the future leaders of the church of Jesus Christ.
In the midst of a sea change in the culture and the church in these days, I have incredible HOPE for what God and His people will do in the years and decades to come. My hope comes from walking alongside many of these FAITHFUL in EXILE students as I see them lean into the issues in our world and live out their faith in radical and redemptive ways every day. It's an incredible privilege to not just lead and pour into them, but to learn from and follow them as they chart a new and beautiful way on the faith journey of following Jesus in this day.
Grab a copy and learn and be inspired and challenged and equipped for the role God has for you in encouraging and raising up resilient disciples!
https://faithforexiles.com/
I think it's pretty honest to say that there has never been a time in those 30 years more filled with negativity, daunting statistics, and great uncertainty, especially in the American/Western church culture, when people look forward to the future as it relates to young people and their engagement with Scripture, Jesus, and His Church.
The books written by Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons and Mark Matlock have been incredible works that have detailed some of the challenges faced inside and outside the Church as well as the unique opportunities provided for this generation of young Christ followers. UNCHRISTIAN, YOU LOST ME, and GOOD FAITH have awakened the American evangelicals and others to some of the issues and crisis points we have been and are facing in the faith journey of emerging adults.
Their latest book entitled FAITH FOR EXILES released this past week and hones in on the 5 practices of young disciples of Jesus who thrive and resiliently live out their faith in what the authors refer to as "Digital Babylon" where they now find themselves. This list and the explanations and examples given for each of the 5 practices comes from Barna's research on this group that is in many ways caught between cultures. Here is the list of the 5 PRACTICES as they counter the influence and impact of the digital culture and world we now live in:
1. To form a resilient identity, experience INTIMACY WITH JESUS
2. In a complex and anxious age, develop the muscles of CULTURAL DISCERNEMENT
3. When isolation and mistrust are the norms, forge meaningful INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
4. To ground and motivate an ambitious generation, train for VOCATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
5. Curb entitlement and self-centered tendencies by engaging in COUNTERCULTURAL MISSION
I see these 5 traits as powerful ideas and targets that can and will enable faithfulness to Scripture and the capacity to flourish and be salt and light in the culture and communities students are part of in this era of digital relationships and communication that has altered so much in their lives and thoughts about the pursuit of faith.
Faith for Exiles is a book that anyone who is a parent, mentor, teacher, coach, pastor, or friend of the next generation should read as they consider their role in inspiring and developing the faith of the future leaders of the church of Jesus Christ.
In the midst of a sea change in the culture and the church in these days, I have incredible HOPE for what God and His people will do in the years and decades to come. My hope comes from walking alongside many of these FAITHFUL in EXILE students as I see them lean into the issues in our world and live out their faith in radical and redemptive ways every day. It's an incredible privilege to not just lead and pour into them, but to learn from and follow them as they chart a new and beautiful way on the faith journey of following Jesus in this day.
Grab a copy and learn and be inspired and challenged and equipped for the role God has for you in encouraging and raising up resilient disciples!
https://faithforexiles.com/
